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A big thank you to everyone who attended this week’s Strategic Countywide Forum on workforce issues and contributed to discussions which will be used to influence national thinking.
We do our best to keep the content and structure of our PEN website up-to-date in these fast-changing times and your suggestions on how to improve the website are always welcome.
Reminder: Bed Rails Management and Safe Use Safety Alert action required by 1 March
Please be aware that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a safety alert over the safe use of bed rails, bed grab handles and other similar devices that pose a risk of entrapment or falls. It includes a list of actions that need to be taken by all those responsible for this equipment, including care providers, occupational therapists and community healthcare organisations by 1 March 2024 (ADASS is currently working to confirm this timeline). The actions can be found here.
The ’here’ link takes you to the National Patient Safety Alert which includes the ‘Actions Required’ by 1 March.
- Update your organisation’s policies and procedures on procurement, provision, prescribing, servicing and maintenance of these devices in line with the MHRA’s updated guidance on the management and safe use of bed rails.
- Develop a plan for all applicable staff to have training relevant to their role within the next 12 months with regular updates. All training should be recorded.
- Review the medical device management system (inventory/database) for your organisation or third-party provider for devices within your organisation, including those which have been provided to a community setting (for example, the patient’s own home). Keep this system up to date.
- Implement maintenance and servicing schedules for the devices in the inventory/database, in line with the manufacturer’s instructions for use and/or service manual. Prioritise devices which have not had regular maintenance and servicing. If this is outsourced, compliance with the schedule should be monitored.
- Review patients who are children or adults with atypical anatomy as a priority. Ensure the equipment they have been provided with is compliant with BS EN 50637:2017 unless there is a reason for using a non-compliant bed. Record this on the risk assessment and put in place measures to reduce entrapment risks as far as possible.
- Review all patients who are currently provided with bed rails or bed grab handles to ensure there is a documented up-to-date risk assessment. Complete risk assessments for patients where this has not already been done and for each patient who is provided with bed rails or bed grab handles.
- Implement systems to update risk assessments where the equipment or the patient’s clinical condition has changed (for example, reduction/improvement in weight or mobility), and also at regular intervals.
Proud to Care - Career Pathway Tool to support recruitment and career development
The Proud to Care and Workforce Training and Education Team have developed an interactive career pathway tool with role profiles and a career quiz.
This will aim to attract more people into careers in the adult social care sector and retain them by encouraging promotion or educational opportunities, as well as enabling them to see the full scope of career pathways across social care.
We need your help to test out the tool and the role profiles. We are aiming that this will be a career tool that you can use to support career conversations.
Let us know what you think - on the career quiz there is a feedback link where you can add your thoughts or click here.
Are you benefiting from the Workforce Development Fund? Declaration Form deadline today!
Simply join the DCHC WDF Partnership by 29 February 2024 and claim up to £2,000 per learner!
You can claim funding for a range of qualifications and learning programmes, including Dementia Care, Falls Prevention and Level 2-5 Diplomas and Apprenticeships in Care. Check out the full list here.
To access this funding, all you need to do is submit a Declaration Form by 29 February, today! 2024 and update the Adult Social Care Workforce Development Set (ASC-WDS) by 28 March 2024.
For more information about the WDF or instructions on how to make a claim, please visit our website or email wdf@devoncarehomes.org.
Skills Bootcamps in Health and Social Care
Did you know that employers can use Skills Bootcamps to support their staff to develop new skills and transform their business?
Train4Tomorrow provides the support you need to invest in your team’s expertise with courses designed to equip your employees with the latest knowledge and best practices in providing exceptional care.
There are two part funded courses that are recruiting now:
- Working in Health and Social Care at Petroc College,
- Working in Healthcare at Exeter College
To find out more about available courses visit: https://www.train4tomorrow.org.uk/bootcamps/
Grey Matter Learning: Part-funded and renewed until March 2025 with Demo Session
With the extension of Grey Matter training, there will be a one hour demo session to learn more about this e-learning platform.
Providers across Devon can access over 100 different eLearning courses from Safeguarding, Medication, Infection control, Wellbeing, with an option to add the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training part one.
“This training platform has enabled us as a small new company to train our staff to a much higher level in a broader range of subjects. The accessibility features are also unique and ensure understanding regardless of language, dyslexia etc.” – Feedback from a Devon Social Care provider.
For More information about the funding sign up here
Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter
Has your support helped transform someone’s life? Have you got innovative practice to share? Send us your celebratory photos and words and we will help share good practice.
Revisit previous good news stories
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